Portable vacuum cleaner structure



30, 1955 J. A. SCHWARZ 2,716,253

PORTABLE VACUUM CLEARNER STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 10, 1950 1770272 07" fliez r'z, /W

1955 J. A. SCHWARZ PORTABLE VACUUM CLEARNER STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1950 United States Patent i I 2,716,253 PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER STRUCTURE Joseph Albert Schwarz, Chicago, lll., assignor to Birtman Electric Company, a corporation of Illinois Application February 10, 1950, Serial No. 143,463 2 Claims. (Cl. 1s-323 This invention relates to a portable vacuum cleaner structure, and particularly to a structure including a cart having a pair. of wheels thereon and a vacuum cleaner attached to the cart.

The portable vacuum cleaner structure of this invention provides a wheeled cart including an easily accessiblehandle for propelling the cart from place to place and a vacuum cleaner mounted on the cart. The ordinary vacuum cleaners of the tank type do not have wheels attached thereto but must be lifted and carried from place to place, while the cleaner is being used. Such a cleaner is operated with various attachments usually including a hose attachableto the cleaner, a tubular wand that is attachable to the end of the hose and variousattachrnents adapted to bemounted on the end ofth e wand. Transporting this type cleaner together with hose, wand 'ana'atechmems necessary for the cleaning operation presents a considerable problem as the cleaner itself is somewha t heavy and the various pieces of auxiliary equipment, the hose, Wand and attachments, are bulkyandhard,v to handle. Withtheordinary cleaner the user, in order. to simplify the problem, ordinarily carriesthe cleaner, hose, Wand and the attachment or attachments he believes that he will use in the particular cleaning operation. These necessary elements, as can be readily seen, total a considerable load. To further complicate the problem, if he finds in the cleaning operation that another attachment, or attachments, is required, it is necessary to return to the place of storage of the cleaner and its auxiliary equipment and secure the needed added attachments.

The cleaner of this invention avoids these problems by providing the wheeled cart described above with the vacuum cleaner attached thereto. In the preferred construction, space is also provided for positioning a unit assembly of all attachments on the cart so that the entire apparatus may be wheeled from the place of storage to the point where it is to be used and then from this point to other places of use or back to the place of storage. The portable structure of this invention is of light-weight construction so that it may be easily wheeled. The structure is also provided with a stop member so that the structure may be stored in upright position where it will occupy a minimum of space.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the portable vacuum cleaner structure; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure; Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation showing one side of the appliance holder; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the other side of the holder.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the portable vacuum cleaner structure comprises an axle extending between a pair of side wheels 11, an upwardly extending handle 12 attached to the axle at the lower end of the handle and having its upper end bent rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. A vacuum cleaner 13 is attached to the handle 12 as by a bolt 14 or the like extending through the handle and into the cleaner wall at a point adjacent the top of the cleaner. 13 is preferably of the usual tank type having the usual provision at the top end 13a for attaching asuction hose and theusual provision at the bottom end' 13b for exhausting air from the cleaner after the dust has been separated from the air.

In order to retain the cleaner tion, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, there is provided a gen; erally U-shaped member 15 at the bottom of the structure with this member extending forwardly of the cleaner 13 and having side portions of a general question'mark shape. This forwardly extendingmember 15 has an axislocated generally betweenthe-wheels as shown inFig, 2 and at substantially right angles to the axle-10. The

curves upwardly and forwardly with the upper ends of.

the side portions attached to the ends of a metal strap 16 which is in turn attached to the cleaner 13. This metal strap 16 follows the contour of the portion of the cleaner to which it is attached and .has the ends 16a bent rearwardly to provide ears ,to which the upper ends of the side portions 15a of the member 15 arebolted. Thus, the member 15 has both side portions 151; attached to the axle and to thecleaner. q I

The member 15, which extends forwardly of. the

cleaner 13, serves as a stop to retain the structure in upright storage position with the structure resting on the wheels and on the downwardly bent forward portion of the member 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The

rearwardly extending portion 12a of the handle 12 pro! vides not only. a hand engaging portion for propelling the vacuum cleaner structure, but also supports the structure when the handle portion 12ers resting on the floor. In this position the end 13a of the cleaner is raised from the horizontal for ready attachment of the hose to this end 13a of the cleaner. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the cleaner 13 may be provided with the usual end caps, trim strips and a switch (not shown).

In the preferred construction, the cleaner structure is provided with a removable appliance holder 17. In the embodiment shown, this appliance holder is of generally planar shape and is constructed of a relatively heavy wire 18 bent to a generally rectangular shape, with the wire being held in a marginal hem of a heavy fabric 19. This appliance holder 17 is removably held on the vacuum cleaner structure by the engagement of the wire 18 with hooks or catch members mounted on the cleaner structure. In the embodiment shown, there is provided a top hook 20 engageable with an upwardly bent portion 18a of the wire 18, with this upwardly bent portion being located at substantially the center of the top portion of the wire. A pair of bottom hooks 21 are provided for engaging opposite sides of the bottom section of the wire 18 with the fabric 19 being cut away to provide access to these portions of the wire. Each bottom hook 21 is mounted on the top part of a side portion 15a of the member 15.

As is shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the rear surface of the appliance holder is provided with various pockets 22 and loops 23 for holding different appliances 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. These various loops and pockets may, of course, be provided as desired and shaped to retain those appliances which are used with the particular cleaner. The sides of the holder toward the front of the structure are preferably provided with a pair of relatively long pockets 29 adapted to be located on opposite sides of the handle 12 when the appliance holder is in place,

- Patented Aug. 30, 1955 The cleaner in upright storage posi- The side portions 15a, which are each of a vyith 'these pocliets" being-designed to hold telescoping upright position is forwardly taperedand: extendstdown wardly; asshown.in Figs;-1 and 2, so-thatrit' will. nest beneath a siniilarportable vacuum cleaner. structure.

when a plurality of structures 'are'stored :together, such. as in'a dealers stateroom; 2

' Kevin 5' described-' my invention as related to. the. .em.-.

bcdiment set outherein; it is 'my intention that. the

invention*be -not lirnited-'by any'of the'detailsrof descrip.

tion unless otherwisespecified, but =rather be: construed broadly within--its -'spiritand scope'as setcut in the accompanying c'la'ims.

--I-fclaim: w r

1.- A wheeled vacuum cleaner-structure adapted. to be propelled overasurface and comprising a, pair of spaced. Wheels andanaxlecxtending: therebetween, an elongated. handle having" one end attached to the ax1e,-:a vacuum cleanerincludi'ng a casing -fix'ed-to'the-handle and positionedadjacent -to =but spacedfrom the :axle,: the handle being located=at therear of" the casing at'substantially thecenter-thereofimnd a forwardly extending .support member positionedadjacent to the wheels and to the cleaner casing for supporting the structutre on said-surface with'thecleanercasing and handle in upright position; the support member includinga paircfrigid portionsattached tothe axle adjacent to. the opposite ends thereof'and fixed to-opposite sidesofthe casing atplaces spaced'upwardly from the axle to-providea rigid struc tin-e; each rigid portion 'ofthe' support member being curved rearwardly, upwardly and then forwardly from the axle to thecleaner casing.

-.4--.- 2. A wheeled vacuum cleanefstructure"adaptedtwbe propelled over a surf ace and comprising a pair of spaced wheels and an axle extendingitherebetwen,"an Hangman handle having one end attached to the axle, a vacuum cleaner including a casing fixed to the handle and positioned adjacent to but spaced from the axle, the handle being located at the rear of the casing at substantially the center thereof, a forwardlye'extending support member.positioned adjacenttoflthe wheels, and to the cleaner casing'for'supporting the'stnicture cmsaidsurf'accthe, cleaner casingzandwhandle iinupright pqsition the support :membercincludingzta pairqotrigidgpo t ons attached to the axle adjacentto the opposite ends thereof.

. and fixedto opposite sides of theca sing at places spaced upwardly from :thesnxle tq.;pro v ide; a rigid structure, and a catch member on the handle and a catch member on each rigid portion of the support memberv for releas-' ably securing a holder for cleaner appliances.

References .Cited in i the I of UNITED-STATES 'BATENTSA g D. 151,008 Rycraft Septrl t, 1948 D; 156,075" Collier Nov.' '22, 'l9 49.

720,422 Green Feb. '10, 1903' 2,146,932 "Boman Feb: 14 1939 2,181,892 1939 2,291,984 Ponselle 1942 2,313,423" I 1943;

2,482,018 McDonald "Sept-l3, 1949 F R GN A NI j 185,124- 7 Switzerland r Sept. 16, 193e- 510,928 :Great- Britain Au'g-.- 10, 1939- 681,242- 

